Devils News

Devils end road trip with a loss in Buffalo

New Jersey falls 5-1 to the Sabres Tuesday night

BUFFALO, NY - A goal in the opening two minutes against the Buffalo Sabres was all the Devils could find of their offense on Tuesday night. New Jersey fell to Buffalo 5-1 to end their four-game road trip.

The second period was a difficult one, giving up five goals to the Sabres, a hole that proved insurmountable for the Devils.

Here are 10 takeaways from the game:

1. Blake Coleman is now the proud owner of 13 goals this NHL season, matching his career high, which he accomplished last season in 79 games. This season, Coleman has 13 goals in 42 games after he deflected a Miles Wood shot from the half-wall past Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton 1:29 into the game Tuesday night. The Devils took a 1-0 lead on the goal.

2. With his assist, Zajac is in sole possession of fourth on the Devils all-time points list with his 485th career point with New Jersey. Zajac passes Scott Gomez (484) and trails Kirk Muller for third (520).

3. Keith Kinkaid started in net for a second consecutive appearance. Kinkaid had a difficult night between the pipes, giving up five goals in the second period, on the heels of several breakdowns on the ice. Kinkaid finished the night with 28 saves on 33 shots.

Kinkaid entered the game with a 3-0-0 record against the Sabres with a 1.00 goals-against average and .964 save percentage.

4. The five goals against in the second period is a season-high for the Devils this year. The last time the Devils allowed five goals vs. Buffalo on the road was on February 17, 2001. Martin Brodeur was the starting goaltender that night.

5. The Devils game against the Buffalo Sabres completed a four-game road trip where New Jersey played each of their four games in a different time zone.

6. New Jersey's penalty-killers nearly had the night off from defending shorthanded against the Sabres. The Devils first penalty of the game came with just over six minutes to play when Stefan Noesen took a roughing penalty that also brought Buffalo's Evan Rodrigues to the box. Noesen was given a four-minute penalty while Rodrigues sat for two.

7. The power play had its struggles against the Sabres. On three opportunities the Devils went 0-for-4 against Buffalo. The Devils power play was up against the leagues' 8th best penalty-kill, with the Sabres defending at an 83.6 percent rate entering the game.

8. The Devils dropped a game in Buffalo for the first time since 2014. New Jersey entered the game on a six-game winning streak in Buffalo.

9. New Jersey ends their road trip with a record of 1-3-0.

10. The Devils return home to New Jersey for a three-game home stand, hosting Toronto, Philadelphia, and Chicago over the next six days.